Dealpolitik: Will Looming Deadlines Push Parties to a Clearwire Deal?

Feb 20, 2013 8:15 am ET

Remember Clearwire? Sprint, which already owned a majority of Clearwire, agreed to buy it in December for $2.97 per share. That deal is subject to the approval of the minority shareholders. Last month Clearwire revealed it had received a competing proposal from Dish to buy spectrum and enter into other operational agreements. At the same time, Dish would also make an offer to buy the Clearwire shares at $3.30 each, with the understanding that it would end up a minority shareholder in a company controlled by Sprint.

The unusual Dish bid leaves the Clearwire board in a complicated situation. And two deadlines loom next week that could add to the board’s burden as well as pressure all three parties to come up with a deal.